Buying house - homeless outside

[Whatinthedoopla]

Hi,

I'm buying a house, and opposite the garden is the community car park. Area is lovely, people are lovely. However, I've noticed thpere has been a van parked right outside the garden (obviously in a parking space), and has been there for weeks. I thought nothing of it, then saw they they open the door and it looks like people live in it! And they look homeless, I saw they legs popping out of the van.

The house has now been emptied, and I'm worried that the homeless people are going into the garden to get water from the tap outside.

My partner isn't worried, but I am, or AIBU?

What should I do?

I don't think it's illegal to live in a van.

In the UK it is. That's why these people don't have extra windows on their van and it wasn't immediately obvious people were living in it. You can't sleep in a vehicle on the public highways overnight permanently. For a couple of hours if you're on a long journey and tired, that's ok. In a motorway services car park where you've paid for all night parking, yes. On an official designated traveller site or in your mates driveway, fine. Lorry drivers in those parking bays on dual carriageways when they've reached their legal driving hours limit for the day. But not people parked at the side of an ordinary road or in a regular car park because they're effectively homeless (even if deliberately so through "vanlife" choice).

Well, if you are daft enough to buy a house with a water meter, I suppose so. I will not have one - they are tax on the old, the incontinent and those with large families

It's compulsory. Even if the house doesn't currently have a water meter, one will be fitted upon sale. They want everyone metered. There are concessions for those on low income or with sufficient medical needs.

You are so horrendously judgemental.

@Peoplemakemesigh it’s not compulsory for older houses. We can’t have one at our house and nor can any of our neighbours (one of them asked the water company and got refused).

why would you need to pay for their water? And how much do you think they would use? I’m sure you could organise a whip-round for the £1-2 of water they might use.

This is hilarious 🤣

Is there any evidence whatsoever that these people just getting on with their lives are going to steal water from your house and peep at you?! Mental!

There’s a van life man who lives beside our local park, we’re on that street. I thought he was truly homeless, turns out he’s mid divorce and his ex wife wanted the house, so he’s trying van life. We saw the van when we bought our house and worried about the area becoming full of transients. It’s 3 years on and there’s still the same one van. On the up side, the van is well maintained, taxed, he’s clean, doesn’t litter, is very pleasant and no one has an issue with him. Give it a little bit before you judge him, though I understand where you’re coming from.

some strange replies to a not so unusual question about new home and shady situations nearby (and yes living in a van on the street is shady).
if the house is lovely you move in as planned, reinforce the perimeter (fence gate etc.) have security motion sensitive lighting. sprinklers etc.
report as necessary to police/council etc.
homeless often choose to live in a variety of ways NOT for a lack of homes but because even shelters cost a small amount or have regulations they don't want to follow.
once you live there they most likely will not be using your yard anymore and will move on.

You need to make sure you exchange and complete your property sale on the same day. If you are at the property ( garden outside whatever ) before you agree to the exchange then you can see if there are squatters.
I would also insist the sellers assure you there are no squatters

@Peoplemakemesigh absolutely not illegal to live in a van as long as that van is roadworthy/taxed etc.

It is illegal to park up and sleep in it in certain places, but by no means everywhere.

Lots of people are doing this so they can live near where they work, and have to park up illegally, hence the no windows thing but its the parking that is illegal, not the 'living in a van'.

There are various apps that show you where you can park legally, where you can fill up with water free or very cheap, where you can empty toilet cassettes etc. Living in a van does not automatically = homeless theives.

https://www.scrapvan123.co.uk/news/is-it-legal-to-live-in-a-van-in-the-uk/

Of course you should not have to pay other people’s bills

As the house is currently empty read the water meter ( and try to get a photo) when you move in and give this to the water company
Then
Either remove the outside tap if you have concerns about misuse
or better still
increase the security of your garden

Wow. It’s not illegal to BE homeless! How nasty.

They may be stealth camping. Check that one out on YouTube. My concerns would be what they are doing with toilet waste.

Call the Council and tell them that "you have seen rats" . The council has to attend. That will get rid of them.

Don't put up with it.
And ignore sanctimonious nonsense about being grateful etc etc 🙄

I go past the house everyday, and they do not move. They have been there for about a week

What sort of issues? Apart from this one of course?

If you're worried about people getting water from your outside tap, get an isolator put on the pipe indoors.

Ask them. Have a chat. Park up for a while yourself if it helps. Ask them nicely. Take someone with you if you feel nervous.

That I've seen rats in the carpark?

Sometimes car parks have high antisocial behaviour or criminal behaviour patterns. Depends on the car park.

You can get an idea by reviewing the crime map for the street.

I go past the carpark every single day, it's a beautiful homely area, no anti social behavior, it's just this van, who has parked really close to the house

Report them and the council will move them on.

You could speak to the people in the van and then you'll know. A good thing to do when buying is chat to neighbours, they'll know what's going on.

Re. the carpark - do you go past it every night?

😂

Most car parks or parking bays dont allow overnight campers or stayers.